Flotation attachment for airplanes



July 1, 1930. c. B. HULL. 1,769,180

FLOTATION ATTACHMENT FOR AIRPLANES Filed nec. :51, 192e 2 sheets-sheet 1 July 1, 1930. C, Bj HULL 1,769,180

FLOTATION ATTACHMENT FOR AIRPLANES 'Filed Dec. 31, 192e l -l2 sheets-sheet 2 z/ 2v f3 zz W in iwi lli MJZZZ "muefnffoz il( o @U01/umso,

Patented July 1,19%)

ENT ori-ica `eLoIcia-B. HULL, or CLEVELAND, lomo l rLoTA'rioNATTAcHi/rnnr Foie AiRPLANEs" Application filed December 31, 1926i'.- vSerial .No..-158,258.

This r, inventionrelates to a flotation attachment designed primarily for use on airplanes of the type generally known as land planes and which are constructed for making -landings on the ground. Frequently, during long flights, etc., however, such planes become disabled over bodies of water and, as they have no means for rendering them buoyant, they sing below the surface and endanger lo the lives of the occupants. n

It is an object of the present invention to provide an attachment for an airplane which includes normally collapsed floats having means whereby they can be quickly inflated by the generation of a gas, the said floats being of such size as to support the airplane with the tail portion projecting above the surface of the water so that it lwill act as a refuge for the passengers until rescued. y

A further object is to provide a normally collapsed float which, when in its normal position will in no way interfere with the flight or manipulation of the airplane.

A still further object is to provide a generator utilizing calcium carbide or other gas forming elements to which water can be supplied quickly so as to quickly generated the gas and thereby rapidly inflate the released or unconfined floats.

With the foregoing. and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the'structure herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from g the spirit of the invention.

4' In the accompanying drawings, the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

vIn said drawings,

Figure l is a side elevation of `an airplane equipped with a flotation device such as conl'stitutes the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof, the two flotation devices being shown inflated. Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical transverse section through one of the inflated flotation Sil `devices and a portion of the fuselage, the

generating ,apparat-us beingshown in elevation. v l

Figure 4 isfan enlarged transverse section through` the collapsed and retained float prior to release'andinfiation.

Figure-ais. a vertical .section through the generator. Figure 6 is a horizontal section therethrough.

Referring-tothe figures by characters of 60 rerferencezl designates the fuselage of an airplane and to eachside thereof is secured an y elongatedcasing.formed of a strong net. Thisf-neteangbe attached to the side of the fuselage vnany manner `desired and extended 'longitudinally thereof, the'saidfnet housing an elongated.- collapsiblefloat 3 formed of rubberized fabric which, when inflated, will ft-...snugly against the net-like casing 2 and` bereinforced: thereby. yNormally the float 3 isvcollapjsed-within the net, the Anet is foldedv thereover, andaretaining sheet l of heavy fabric or-the like :is arranged to completely cover the .-:coll'apsed portion, this covering sheetbeing detachably fastened yto the side of thefuselagejfby'a rip cord 5 mounted in any manner desired and adapted tobe operated freni-the cock, pit. In the structure illustrated'apertured lugs 6.are extended outwardlyfrom the fuselagethrough eyes withinfthe covering-sheet land. the rip cord is extendedthrough these lugs so `as to retain the coveringL sheet thereon. Obviously by withdrawing r4the cord from the lugs the sheet ll-isreleased; and the net` casing and the inflatable member-3 can thus*V be distended.y

lNhenthe parts are collapsed and covered,

however-,theydo not offer any interference to themani'pulation and flight of the machine.

Ofv coursexinstead of yhaving these parts mountedonithe outer surface ofthe yfuselage as.s hown,.however, suitable recesses could be--provide'd-in the fuselage to receive them whencollapsed.l Suchan arrangement is so obvious that it is not deemednecessary to show-,or describe .the same in detail..

The emeansprovidedfor inflating the at- K tachment includes a generator `one formV of which-.fhas -been-illustrated.y 'This generator w includes acasingY adapted to be partly filled 1W with calciumcarbide or other gas forming element, there being upstanding Water distributing tubes 8 on the bottom of the casing adapted to be surrounded by the lumps of calcium carbide or other gas forming element. These tubes have small apertures 9 through which the Water can escape and theV casing is provided, adjacent its upper end,

A communication with a Water pipe 18 extending to the bottom portion of a Water tank 19 located above the generator. A valve 20 may be provided in the pipe 18 for controlling the flow of Water to the generator casing. An equalizing tube 21 opens into the top of the Water tank 19 and into the top of the generator therebelovv. A check valve 22 can be used to prevent Water in the Water chamber from entering the carbide chamber. Thus pressures Within the Water tank and gener- ;-e ator are maintained the same. In practice the flotation attachments are held collapsed and housed as already explained While the generator casing 7 is charged with fresh calcium carbide or other gas forming element.

r rEank 19 is filled With Water or other suitable gas forming means and valve 20 is ofcourse closed. Should the airplane make a forced landing on the surface of a body of Water the v aviator or other personin the machine pulls to the inflatable members 3.

the rip cords 5 and opens valve 20. The contents of the tank 19 Will thus be directed into the tubes 8 and gas Will be properly generated. rihis gas Will escape through the outlet 10 and extension 11 to the tubes 13 and thence These will proniptlyexpand or be distended by the gas delivered thereto until its maximum distention has been reached at Which time each ofthe inflatable members 3 will be fitted snugly Within the net embracing the same. Consequently vvhen the airplane strikes the body of water the flotation devices Will serve to hold the tail portion of the airplane extended upwardly so that it can providea refuge for the passengers until rescued. If the flotation devices should not be fully distended when the airplane strikesthe Water7 the gas will continue to generate after the airplane sinks and thereafter the entire structure will be brought to the surface.

The generator can be provided With a suitable pressure relief valve as shown at 23.

What is claimed is: i

rEhe combination With an airplane struc- 'ituie including a fuselage, of an attachment ing said container to the airplane structure,

at a point below the top thereof, means normally flat against the side of the fuselage and oering minimum Wind resistance for holding the containers collapsed,V said Vmeans Vbeing quickly released to permit expansion of the containers, and means for supplying gas to the collapsible container to expand it When released. l

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, Iliave hereto aflixed my signature.

l CLOICE B. HULL.

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